Bogie linear inductor suspension assembly

ABSTRACT

A Foucault-current linear-inductor suspension assembly on a railway vehicle comprises an inductor movable between upper and lower inoperative and operative positions in a vertical plane through the rail and fixed to a beam located in a vertical plane passing through the bogie axle boxes, the beam being coupled to the bogie frame by pins fast therewith and links connecting the pins to the bogie frame and guided in its movement with the inductor by guides in the bogie axle boxes.

United States Patent 11 1 Pinto Dec. 24, 1974 [54] BOGIE LINEAR INDUCTOR SUSPENSION 2,159,814 5/1939 McCunc 105/77 ASSEMBLY 2,270,425 1/1942 Farmer .4 105/77 X 3,506,862 4/1970 Nomura et a1 105/77 X Inventor: Georges Pinto, Le Creusot, F nc 3,516,364 6/1970 Machefert-Tassin 105/77 x [73] Assignee: Creusot-Loire, Paris, France Primary ExammerM. Henson Wood, Jr. [22] Flled: 11 1972 Assistant Examiner-Howard Beltran [211 Appl 302,679 Attorney, Agent, or FirmCameron, Kerkam, Sutton,

Stowell 8L Stowell [30] Foreign Application Priority Data 57] ABSTRACT Novv 12, 1971 France 71.40485 A Foucault-current linear-inductor suspenslon assem- U.S. l A R on a railway vehicle comprises an inductor mov- 188/41 188/l65 191/49 able between upper-and lower inoperative and opera- [511 Int CL B61c 11/00 361C 15/O4 B61h 0 tive positions in a vertical plane through the rail and [58] Field ofnsearch 165/73 77 A 218 fixed to a beam located in a vertical plane passing I 1 188/ 41 through the bogie axle boxes, the beam being coupled to the bogie frame by pinsfast therewith and links [56] References Cited connecting the pins to the bogie frame and guided in its movement with the inductor by guides in the bogie UNITED STATES PATENTS axle boxes. 467,243 1/1892 Walter 105/77 896,740 8/1908 Mayo 188/165 4 C a 5 Dra ing Figures The present invention refers to a suspension assembly for a Foucault-current linear-inductor such, for example, as a brake, a motor or a brake-motor, on a railway vehicle bogie.

In the case of a brake it is known that with the vehicle running-normally the brake-inductor must be disunited from the moving train in order to reduce the unsprung masses as much as possible and that in the braking position the inductor must maintain with a constant clearance relative to the rail and be kept vertically above the latter.

According to the present invention there is provided a Foucault-current linear-inductor suspension assembly on railway vehicle bogie comprising an inductor, means for the transmission of forces to the bogie frame and means for displacing the inductor in a vertical plane through a rail between an upper inoperative position and a lower operative position, wherein the inductor is fixed to a beam located in a vertical plane substantially passing through the bogie axle boxes, the beam being provided with pin means which are connected to the bogie frame by link means and the axle boxes have guide means for centering and supporting the beam in the lower operative position of the inductor.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention the inductor and the beam are integral.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of an embodiment of an assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 1A shows the structure of FIG. 1 in braking position;

FIG. 2 is a section along the line AA in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section along the line BB in FIG. 1; and

- plane of the axle-boxes l2 and capable of withstanding vertical forces. The inductor l and the beam 2 are coupled adjacent each of their ends by a rigid shaft 3 extending therethrough, which has at its ends two arms 4,

the ends 5 of which are connected to the frame of the bogie 6 by vertical links 7.

Control members ensure the positioning of the inductor 1 in the braking position as seen in FIG. 1A, the braking action between inductor l and the rail being the reverse of the motor action of a linear motor as shown in US. Pat. No. 3,516,364. In the example shown these control members consist of jacks 8. As the jacks 8 are actuated to place the inductor l in the braking position, the ends 9 of the beam 2 centre themselves in guides 10 mounted on the axleboxes 12 before coming to bear on adjusting wedges or wear plates 11 which ensure the correct clearance between the inductor l and the rail, and are replaced to take into account the wear of the wheels.

If a is the distance separating the axes of the inductor 1 and the beam 2, b is the distance separating the pins 4, F is the vertical force at the inductor, the disturbing couple F X a is balanced by the two pins 4, and the forces f on the links 7 have the absolute value;

Among the advantages of the above described assembly may be mentioned the fact that outside the braking periods the inductor is non-.operatively connected to the moving train as indicated above and that furthermore the stabilization provided by the pin shafts leaves the interior of the bogie free. In the case of driving bogies, the interior of the bogie is occupied by the assembly of traction motors and their transmissions to the axle.

The transmission of the braking force from the inductor to the bogie frame can be obtained by any known meansv such as links, drive tappets, etc.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the inductor and the beam 1 can be constructed as an integral unit, this arrangement being of particular advantage from the point of view of the weight of the assembly since one portion of the beam then serves as the shell of the inductor.

The invention is also applicable where the inductor is employed as a linear motor or both as motor and brake. A driving bogie of the above-described assembly also enables the two sides of the bogie to be disunited by making the wheels independent, not coupled by an axle. This is equally valid for a plain bearer bogie.

There is thus provided a suspension assembly which both during normal running of the vehicle and in the event of braking ensures transverse stability of the inductor under the effect of the vertical forces (weight of the inductor plus the magnetic inductive force of attraction towards the rail) located vertically above the rail and balanced vertically above the axle-boxes.

What is claimed is:

l. A suspension' for a Foucault-current linearinductor on a railway vehicle bogie having axle boxes and a frame comprising a Foucault-current linear inductor, means for the transmission of forces from said inductor to the bogie frame and means for displacing said inductor in a vertical plane passing through an adjacent rail between an upper inoperative position and a lower operative position, a beam supporting said inductor located in a vertical plane substantially passing through the bogie axle boxes, arm means connected to said beam, link means connecting said arm means to the bogie frame and guide means in the axle boxes for centering and supporting said beam in the lower operative position of said inductor.

2. A suspension as claimed in claim 1, said guide means including replaceable wedge means for supporting said beam.

3. A suspension as claimed in claim 1, said inductor and said beam being integral.

4. A suspension as claimed in claim 1, including a shaft connecting said inductor and said beam and extending therethrough, said arm means being rigidly connected to said shaft. 

1. A suspension for a Foucault-current linear-inductor on a railway vehicle bogie having axle boxes and a frame comprising a Foucault-current linear inductor, means for the transmission of forces from said inductor to the bogie frame and means for displacing said inductor in a vertical plane passing through an adjacent rail between an upper inoperative position and a lower operative position, a beam supporting said inductor located in a vertical plane substantially passing through the bogie axle boxes, arm means connected to said beam, link means connecting said arm means to the bogie frame and guide means in the axle boxes for centering and supporting said beam in the lower operative position of said inductor.
 2. A suspension as claimed in claim 1, said guide means including replaceable wedge means for supporting said beam.
 3. A suspension as claimed in claim 1, said inductor and said beam being integral.
 4. A suspension as claimed in claim 1, including a shaft connecting said inductor and said beam and extending therethrough, said arm means being rigidly connected to said shaft. 